This week marks the 225th anniversary of the inauguration of
George Washington as the first president of the United States. That event took place in New York City on
April 30, 1789. The centennial of that
event in 1889 was marked with huge celebrations in New York, Chicago, and
elsewhere. Let us look at how that
centennial was celebrated.

Frances Glessner recorded the following entry in her journal on May 5,
1889:

“Tuesday was the centennial celebration of Washington’s
inauguration. The city was gay with
bunting – fireworks were displayed at different places – and the immense crowd
on the lake shore was unruly and many people were reported hurt. A regiment passed by here in the morning.”

The Chicago celebration was organized by the Union League Club. The day included exhibitions at museums, special
church services, and elaborate opening exercises of the children outside
schools around the city, all attended by huge crowds.

The account of the service held at Second Presbyterian Church is typical
and even includes some words of wisdom for the politicians of the day:

“The Rev. S. J. McPherson of the Second Presbyterian Church, Michigan
avenue and Twentieth street, delivered a thoughtful and scholarly address on
the character of Washington. The
impression frequently given out that Washington did everything easily was both
mistaken and injurious. He always took pains
and it was his careful attention to detail that saved the American
Republic. He was never an officer seeker
– a quality to be commended to the politicians of the present day. He made himself so necessary that the office
sought him. That is the kind of civil
service we need but do not seem able to get.
The organ loft and the rear of the pulpit were beautifully draped with
large flags, and there were other decorations at the church.”

Downtown buildings were elaborately decorated with flags, bunting, and
huge portraits. Several large venues in
the downtown area served as sites for grand patriotic speeches about the life
and impact of Washington in American history.

The Central Music Hall was the scene of one of these gatherings. At 3:00pm, chairman Robert Todd Lincoln
welcomed 3,500 guests into the hall which was draped in red, white, and blue
bunting and mottoes. The stage was
surrounded by an arch of immense silken flags with a huge painting of George
Washington as the keystone. The stage
featured a central pyramid of 100 female choristers dressed in red, white, and
blue. The ceremony began with the
singing of “Hail, Columbia” with all the attendees waving miniature American
flags. Several speeches were offered
including one by Dr. Simon J. McPherson, pastor at Second Presbyterian Church.

An interesting part of the celebration was the display of 1,001
artifacts from George Washington and the Revolutionary War era at the
Exposition Building (now the site of the Art Institute). The artifacts, which filled five large rooms,
were from the collection of Charles F. Gunther, a wealthy Chicago confectioner
and collector. Items included letters
signed by Washington, six paintings of Washington including three by Gilbert
Stuart, and Washington’s bed and other items used during the War. (Most of Gunther’s collection, which also
included Lincoln’s deathbed, was eventually purchased by the Chicago Historical
Society, now the Chicago History Museum).

As the day drew to a close, the huge crowds that had assembled downtown
broke into three smaller masses and headed to the three displays of fireworks. An elaborate banquet was held at the Union
League Club for visiting dignitaries, with 200 in attendance.

The events in New York were even grander in scope. President Benjamin Harrison retraced the
itinerary of the first inauguration, travelling from the Governor’s mansion in
New Jersey to New York, arriving by boat at the foot of Wall Street. From there he proceeded to old Saint Paul’s
Church on Broadway and finally to the site where Washington was administered
the oath of office. The city was the
site of three days of festivities including military displays, parades, music,
and much pageantry.

President Harrison arrives at Wall Street

The poet John Greenleaf Whittier composed a special ode and Samuel
Francis Smith, author of “America” (My Country Tis of Thee) composed a special
fifth verse for the occasion:

Our joyful hearts
today,

Their grateful tribute
pay,

Happy and free,

After our toils and
fears,

After our blood and
tears,

Strong with our hundred
years,

O God, to Thee.

Parade passing Union Square on Broadway, New York City

Augustus St. Gaudens was commissioned to design a commemorative bronze
medal.

Many other less artistic souvenirs were created as well, such as the 12
inch cast iron commemorative hatchet shown below, recalling the famous story of
Washington cutting down a cherry tree.

A large triumphal arch was erected over Fifth Avenue at Washington Square
by local businessman William Rhinelander Stewart, who raised $2,765 from his
friends for the project. The arch,
constructed of wood and plaster, was so well received that plans were made for
a permanent version.

Architect Stanford White designed the new arch which was built in 1892;
he donated his services for the project.
The Washington Arch, modeled after the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, stands
77 feet tall and is constructed of white Tuckahoe (Westchester) marble. The face is covered with images of war, peace
and victory along with stars, capital “W”s and inscriptions. Two additional statues of Washington known as
Washington at War and Washington at Peace, were added in
1918. They are the work of Hermon A.
MacNeil and A. Stirling Calder (father of Alexander Calder), respectively.

As a headline in the Chicago
Tribune stated the next day, “When our babes are old, they will remember
and talk about yesterday’s celebration.”